California Organized Investment Network (COIN) Is a Collaborative Effort Between the California Department of Insurance, the Insurance Industry, Community Affordable Housing and Economic Development Organizations, and Community Advocates.

The Investigation Division investigates suspected fraud committed by insurance agents, brokers, public adjusters, bail agents, insurance companies and other individuals and entities transacting the business of insurance who perpetrate fraud against consumers.

An insurance adjuster is a person other than a private investigator who, for any consideration whatsoever, engages in the business of making an investigation for the purpose of obtaining information in the course of adjusting or participating in the disposal of any claim in connection with a policy of insurance or engages in soliciting insurance adjustment business.

Qualifications: The person in charge of the business (owner, partner, officer, or an employed manager) must meet the following requirements:

Minimum Age: 18 years

Residency: Pursuant to Section 14029(a) of the California Insurance Code, the business of each licensee must be operated under the active direction, control, charge, or management of the licensee, if the licensee is qualified, or the person who has qualified to act as the licensee's manager, if the licensee is not qualified. Although the qualified manager is not required to be a resident of California, they must meet the oversight requirements pursuant to section 14029(a) stated above.

Entity Types: Individual and Business Entity.

Prelicensing Experience/Education: Must have two years certified experience in insurance adjusting field. 2,000 hours of compensated time in the adjusting field is equal to one year of experience.

Continuing Education:Section 14090.1 of the California Insurance Code (CIC) was amended to establish a CE requirement of 24 hours, including 3 hours of ethics during each two year license term for a California resident independent insurance adjusters.

Business Entity - Application for Adjuster Business Entity License, form LIC 042-A.

Bond: A Bond of Insurance Adjuster, form LIC 31A-14, in the penal sum of $2,000 executed by a California admitted surety, and signed by the principal. If the applicant is a business entity, the business entity must be named as principal.

Branch Office Certificate: If the applicant intends to conduct business from any location in California other than the principal place of business, a Branch Office Certificate must be obtained by submitting an Application for Branch Office Certificate, form LIC 31A-13, and fee.

Fingerprint Impressions: Fingerprint impressions are required for unlicensed applicants. If an examination is required, fingerprint impressions may be taken at the California examination sites.

Additional Documents: The Insurance Commissioner may require such other documents as will aid in determining whether the applicant meets the qualifications for a license.

Examination:

The person in charge of the business (qualified manager) must pass a qualifying license examination administered by the Department.

Examination Fee: $72. This fee will be charged when the first examination is scheduled using PSI examination scheduling service. Do not include the examination fee with the license filing fee when you submit your adjuster application.

Insurance Adjuster licenses are issued for two year terms. Specifically, the term of the license begins the date the license is issued and ends the last day of that same calendar month two years later.

Note:Sections 14091 and 14094 of the CIC were amended to reduce the grace period during which an expired independent insurance adjuster license or branch certificate may be renewed from five years to one year.

Individuals and business entities who do not receive the email notification must still renew their license online by following the prompts on CDI's Online Renewal Service at the following website link: Online Renewal Service

NEW! CDI's online renewal service is now available to insurance agents, brokers, and adjusters who want to renew their licenses after the license expiration date has passed. Additionally, the online renewal service is available to insurance agents, brokers, and adjusters who previously used the online renewal service as an on-time renewal but were not able to renew their license because not all of the requirements to renew were met prior to the license expiration date. The online renewal service now allows these licensees, once their requirements have been met, to complete the renewal of their license by paying the 50 percent late penalty fee.

The online renewal service for late renewals is not available to bail agents, who by law must reapply as a new applicant if their license is not renewed prior to the expiration date.

Any licensees that renew their licenses late will be required to pay a 50 percent penalty fee and file new company appointments and/or solicitor appointment (if applicable). "Late" is defined as any renewal for which the requirements to renew (for CA residents this includes completing the ethics and continuing education hours) are not met until after the expiration date of the previous license term. Use this link Late Renewal to find out how to late renew your license.

Note: An expired license or branch office certificate may be renewed within one year after its expiration upon filing an application for renewal and paying the required renewal fees. If the license or certificate is renewed more than 30 days after its expiration, a delinquency fee is also required.

Federal law (Title 18 United States Code Section 1033) prohibits anyone who has been convicted of a felony involving dishonesty or a breach of trust from conducting the business of insurance unless they have obtained the written consent of the Insurance Commissioner. It is a violation of this statute to conduct business of insurance without the Commissioners written consent. If you have been convicted of a felony involving dishonesty or a breach of trust then you must attach a copy of this consent. If you have not obtained this written consent you must do so by filing a 1033 Short Form Application for Written Consent prior to filing your application.

A Pocket Identification Card will be issued for the licensee, each qualified manager, each officer, or partner.

The full name and Social Security Number of any employee hired or terminated subsequent to filing of the original application for license, must be submitted to the Department within 30 days of such occurrence.

A change in the qualified manager, branch manager, officer or partner must be reported to the Department within 30 days of such change. A Personal Identification, form LIC 31A-9 for each new Qualified Manager, officer or partner must be filed. The Pocket Identification Card issued for the previously named Qualified Manager must be surrendered.

A branch office must be a bona fide place of business.

In the case of a business entity, any change in the officers, partners, those stockholders owning 10% or more of the corporate stock, directors, or controlling persons must immediately be reported to the Department giving full names, residence address and social security number.